The National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlement has warned that Jerusalem and the West Bank are witnessing a grave escalation of Israel's settlement activities and its ethnic cleansing practices against the Palestinians.

In a report released on Saturday, the bureau said that Israel's approval of plans to build hundreds of housing units and its widespread demolition campaign against Palestinian homes in the West Bank and Jerusalem are aimed at strengthening the presence of settlers on the occupied Palestinian lands and Judaizing Jerusalem and other Palestinian areas classified as C, in violation of the international law.

The bureau stressed the need to urgently refer Israel's expansion of settlements and demolition of Palestinian homes to the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court to take decisive action against its violations and curb its crimes against the Palestinians.

A Hebrew newspaper said the Israeli official and ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) schools still get more funding than Palestinian schools in Occupied Jerusalem.

According to Iroshalim newspaper, 105,000 Palestinian students still need about 1,000 classrooms in their schools in east Jerusalem, amid deliberate neglect by the Israeli municipality.

According to the newspaper, the Israeli municipality spent 46 million shekels to improve its official schools during the current summer vacation.

The municipality also earmarked 42 million shekels for the improvement of schools where Haredi students study in the holy city. However, only 4.8 million shekels were recently spent on Palestinian schools in east Jerusalem.

The al-Awqaf Council for Islamic Affairs, the Islamic Supreme Authority, and Dar al-Fatwa issued a joint statement on Friday evening denouncing Israeli arrests and violations at al-Aqsa Mosque.

The joint statement pointed out that Israeli authorities arrested over the few past days two guards of al-Aqsa Mosque and an employee at the holy shine's administration.

Other employees at al-Aqsa were earlier summoned for investigation and denied access into the compound for different periods of time. Heavy fines were also imposed on them.

The statement described the Israeli deliberate targeting of al-Aqsa’s employees and guards as a systematic punitive policy aims at silencing protests against settlers’ provocative presence in the Islamic holy shrine.

The statement also warned Israeli authorities of continuing attacks against al-Aqsa’s employees and guards.

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) carried out at dawn Saturday a raid and arrest campaign across the West Bank which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.

In Jenin, clashes broke out when Israeli forces violently stormed Jenin refugee camp and arrested two young men. Nearly six homes were also stormed and searched while the main road in the city was closed during the raid, local sources told the PIC reporter.

Palestinian youths responded by throwing stones at the Israeli soldiers who were deployed in large numbers in the city’s neighborhoods and refugee camp amid heavy firing of teargas bombs and rubber bullets.

In Nablus, Israeli forces stormed in large numbers Beita and Qablan towns before closing all roads leading to both towns. No arrests were reported during the raid.

In Ramallah, Israeli forces detained overnight a young man at Hazma military checkpoint, while another Palestinian was rounded up in al-Khalil. Several towns and villages in al-Khalil have also witnessed large-scale raid and search campaigns.

A number of locals were summoned for investigation during the campaign. In occupied Jerusalem, Israeli police arrested Saturday morning a guard at al-Aqsa Mosque while on his way to work.

Meanwhile, Israeli municipal authorities forced a Jerusalemite citizen to demolish his house in Silwan town, south of al-Aqsa, under the pretext of being built without Israeli permit.

According to statistics published in September 2015 by B'Tselem, Israel has partially or completely demolished a total of 988 houses built without permits in occupied Jerusalem between 1999 and 2014, as per B’Tselem statistics published on Sept. 17, 2015.

This came amid talks about over 30,000 houses in Jerusalem without permits, which means Israel only granted permits for a few houses, but there are no statistics in this regard.

The house demolition policy was harshly criticized by many international parties on several occasions, with the last one on May 16, when Israeli forces demolished and disassembled 12 EU-built homes in the Bedouin neighborhood in Jabal al-Baba east of Jerusalem, claiming they had been built without Israeli authorization.

The incident led Robert Piper, the UN coordinator for humanitarian assistance and development aid for the occupied Palestinian territory, on May 19 to strongly criticize the Israeli move, while the European Union denounced the confiscation and demolition in a statement on May 20, and demanded Israel to put an end to this policy.

In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 21– 27 July 2016, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces continued systematic crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

A Palestinian was killed in Hebron. 10 Palestinian civilians were wounded, including a child and a young woman, in the West Bank.

Israeli forces conducted 64 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 6 limited ones in the southern Gaza Strip. 94 civilians were abducted, including 22 children and 4 women. 50 of them, including 16 children and 3 women, were abducted in occupied Jerusalem.

Israeli attacks in the West Bank:

In the West Bank, on 27 July 2016, Israeli forces killed Mohammed Jubarah al-Faqih (29) from Dura, south of Hebron. The aforementioned was killed when a large force of Israeli soldiers moved into Sorif village, northwest of Hebron, and surrounded a 3-storey house belonging to al-Heeh Family. The Israeli soldiers ordered al-Faqih, who was holed up in that house, to surrender but he refused to do so. An armed clash then broke out between al-Faqih and the soldiers, who heavily opened fire from all sides at him.

They also fired shoulder-fired missiles at the house in addition to destroying parts of it by their vehicles. Due to the shelling and vehicle attacks, the house was completely destroyed. It should be mentioned that Israeli forces accused al-Faqih of being involved in a shooting attack at a settlers’ car and killed one of them.

On 22 July 2016, two Palestinian civilians were wounded during the village of Kafr Qaddoum’s weekly protest. A 42-year-old civilian sustained a metal bullet wound to the left thigh while a 22-year-old civilian sustained a metal bullet to the head.

On 26 July 2016, 7 civilians, including a child, were wounded when Israeli forces moved into al-Am’ari refugee camp in Ramallah to carry out an arrest campaign. Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian children and young men gathered to throw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who in response opened fire at them. As a result, the seven civilians were wounded.

On the same day, Israeli security guard company officers stationed at Qalednia checkpoint, north of East Jerusalem, opened fire at Raghd al-Sho’ani (18) while crossing the checkpoint via the vehicle track. As a result, she was hit with several bullets in the lower limbs. Israeli forces claimed that al-Sho’ani attempted to stab Israeli soldiers and transferred her to “Shaare Zedek” Medical Centre in West Jerusalem to receive medical treatment.Israeli forces continued to impose collective punishment measures against Palestinian civilians.

New house demolition decisions were issued against houses of civilians accused of attacks against Israeli soldiers and settlers. The entrance to al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron, was closed for the third consecutive week.

Israeli forces continued their efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem. A civilian was forced to self-demolish a residential room. 11 residential buildings were leveled in Qalandia village adjacent to the annexation wall. A house in Silwan and another house and a commercial facility in al-‘Issawiyah were demolished.

At approximately 02:00, on Saturday, 23 July 2016, Israeli forces accompanied with military vehicles moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron, and stationed in Wad Soud neighbourhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to prisoner Mohamed Abdul Majeed Mohamed ‘Amairah (38). An engineering unit took the measurements of the 1-storey house built on an area of 180 square meters. Israeli forces then handed the family an administrative demolition notice and give them a period until 26 July 2016 to challenge the Israeli court.

Israeli authorities accused al-‘Amairah of killing an Israeli settler, along with Mohamed Jabarah al-Faqeh, after opening fire at him near Deir Razah village, south of the city. Israeli forces also raided al-Faqeh’s 3-storey house and took its measurements in addition to threatening the family.

For the 3rd consecutive week, Israeli authorities kept the cordon imposed on al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron, with an iron gate at the western entrance. They also closed all the sub-entrances leading to the camp with sand barriers that resulted in obstructing the civilians’ movement into and from the camp. In the past months and at the beginning of October 2015, Israeli forces closed the iron gate established at the camp entrance for over a month and a half following the shooting attack carried out in Tel Aviv.

The camp was closed for the third time since the stabbing attack in “Kharsina” settlement until the reporting period. Israeli forces also closed the iron gate established at the entrance to Dura village, the gate near ” Beit Hagai” settlement, and the iron gate established at al-Fahas entrance and the eastern Yatta entrance, which is supposed to be alternative entrances for the residents.

Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip

In the Gaza Strip and in the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Sea, on 27 July 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off Northwest Beit Lahia shore in the northern Gaza Strip heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. The two gunboats surrounded a Palestinian fishing boat manned by 2 fishermen sailing within 1.5 nautical miles. The Israeli soldiers ordered the fishermen to take off their clothes and jump into the sea in order to swim towards one of the gunboats. They were abducted and then taken to an unknown destination. The boat was also confiscated.

On the same day afternoon, another Palestinian fishing boat was subject to shooting in the same area. Israeli forces chased and confiscated the boat and abducted 6 fishermen. They also damaged another boat.

Israeli settlement activities:

On Sunday July 24th, at approximately 18:00, a large group of Israeli settlers raided Aqabet al-Khaldiyah neighbourhood in the Old City in East Jerusalem. The settlers provoked and insulted the by-passers. After that, hundreds of young men gathered around the settlers and clashed with them. Large numbers of Israeli soldiers and the intelligence services officers immediately raided the neighbourhood and deployed in the streets. They then attacked and beat the young men while spraying pepper randomly.

They also raided and searched several houses and attacked the inhabitants. As a result, more than 14 civilians were wounded, 6 of whom sustained burns as they were pepper sprayed. Moreover, the Israeli settlers beat and abducted 6 civilians, including 2 children. The abducted civilians were identified as Rasheed Sameer al-Rasheq (17), Ahmed Ya’qub al-Salaymah (16), Ahmed al-Rasheq (27), Rami Zaki Baituni (31), Ali Mousa Abu Asab (45) and Mohammed Jamal ‘Akawi (21).

Rashid’s grandfather said that Israeli soldiers raided the family house and pepper sprayed his wife Fawziyah al-Rasheq (63), due to which she was fainted. After that, they abducted his grandson Rashid and son Ahmed from the house. They also beat them and pepper sprayed them. The soldiers raided houses belonging to Abu Asab, al-Salaymah and al-Dayah families in the neighbourhood.

Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:

At approximately 13:30, on Friday, 22 July 2016, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliya, and then made their way to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the entrance, Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them.

As a result, 2 civilians were wounded, the first (42) was hit with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the thigh, while the second (22) was hit with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head.

Following the Friday prayer, on 22 July 2016, dozens of Palestinians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah, al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of city, and Kafur Qadoum village, northeast of Qalqilyia. Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs and chased the protesters into the olive fields and between houses.

As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up. Moreover, Israeli forces abducted 5 civilians, including 2 journalists. They released the abovementioned abducted, while Ashraf Ahmed Abu Rahma (35) was held in Israeli custody for several days.

Recommendations to the international community:

Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the UN General Assembly transfer the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome Statute.

In addition, the PCHR called upon the United Nations to confirm that holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built at the expense of human rights.

The Center further pointed out that the popular solidarity campaign has continued in support of the hunger striker Bilal al-Kayed.

Several Palestinian prisoners went on hunger strike demanding al-Kayed’s release. Israel also persisted in its administrative detention policy according to which hundreds are jailed in its prisons without charge or trial, the center said in its weekly report.

Last week, eight Palestinians were held in administrative detention while the Red Cross decided to decrease family visits for Palestinian prisoners pushing a number of prisoners to declare hunger strike in protest at the step.

The center reported 49 injuries during clashes that erupted with Israeli forces over the past week in occupied Jerusalem and West Bank. One Palestinian young man was also killed last week after Israeli forces surrounded and demolished his house in Surif town in al-Khalil.

During the reported period, 17 Palestinian-owned houses and facilities were demolished while Israeli authorities approved the construction of 323 housing units in occupied Jerusalem and submitted a plan for the reconstruction of 770 other housing units.

The US State Department strongly condemned, in a statement issued on Wednesday, Israel’s continued settlement expansion in occupied Jerusalem.

State Department Spokesman John Kirby said, in the statement, that the United States was “deeply concerned” by reports of the Israeli government opening tenders for 323 additional units in several Israeli settlements east of occupied Jerusalem.

He expressed, according to the PNN, his government’s disapproval of plans to build an additional 770 units in the illegal Israeli settlement of Gilo, which was announced Monday.

In the statement, Kirby said that the actions of the Israeli government, aimed at fast-tracking the resettlement of Israeli Jewish citizens into settlements on Palestinian territory, appeared to represent a steady acceleration of settlement activity that is systematically undermining the prospects for a two-state solution:

“We remain troubled that Israel continues this pattern of provocative and counterproductive action, which raises serious questions about Israel’s ultimate commitment to a peaceful, negotiated settlement with the Palestinians.”

Kirby’s statement has joined a long line of other nations, international organizations, and rights groups, including the European Union and United Nations, that have condemned Israel’s policies in the occupied Palestinian territory, which have escalated to a concerning degree over the past several months.

Extremist Jewish groups have started making preparations and holding meetings to incite their followers to participate in events in Jerusalem and group marches to the Aqsa Mosque to be organized during August to commemorate what they claim to be the destruction of the first and second temples.

According to Qpress news website, these preparations include symposiums, conferences, lectures, sit-ins and other anti-Aqsa events to be held in Occupied Jerusalem and other major cities.

These preparatory events are aimed to whip up the Jewish masses and encourage them to march en masse to the Aqsa Mosque, which they falsely call the temple mount.